headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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merryjerry

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Submissions

9
The Wheel
Oct. 2, 1977
Paramount Theatre

It's so apt that The Wheel would roll into Truckin' that the outro is short but the rest is very nice.
9
Eyes Of The World
June 27, 1984
Merriweather Post Pavilion

Jerry really mines the changes on this one and pulls out plenty of little gold nuggets (like Coltrane). Good interplay, too. An inspired version.
11
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
May 12, 1981
Veterans' Memorial Coliseum

A cheesy video of this kickass version would have Garcia playing atop a steam locomotive as it barrels down the track.
10
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
Oct. 18, 1972
Fox Theater

Incomplete, but what remains is top-notch and essential.
12
Me and Bobby McGee
March 26, 1973
Baltimore Civic Center

I just gotta nominate this one, that's all.

Comments

Eyes Of The World
Feb. 3, 1978
Dane County Coliseum

Awesome intro. Jerry plays within himself on all of his solos and keeps finding magic. An exceptional version from an epic sequence.
Mister Charlie
Aug. 6, 1971
Hollywood Palladium

This thing packs in so much in such a short time that it’s like a musical clown car.
China Cat Sunflower -> I Know You Rider
July 31, 1974
Dillon Stadium

I find a lot of Spring/Summer ’74 stuff to be a sort of Ying and Yang of Looseness (Sloppiness?) and Tightness. Unlike a lot of the largely-now-forgotten fusion stuff of the period, it is the presence of this looseness that allows the band to discover little glens and knolls of musical bliss. And this version is completely representative of that. While it is not a sustained tour de force it does have some exceptional moments and characteristics. To these ears, the most unique thing about this one occurs when everybody but Jerry falls into the ‘Feelin’ Groovy’ theme. Jerry had been ripping some pretty inspired passages and clearly did not want to go into the FGT, so while the band plays it under him he continues to play virtually outside of it with only the thinnest of tethers to it. After a little while he finally falls in but is still a bit rebellious and pulls off some rippin’ lines before they go into IKYR. I should also say that each of the boys makes his presence felt on this one.
Playin' In The Band
July 21, 1974
Hollywood Bowl

Almost forgot, this is a big sandwich: Playin'>Wharf Rat>Truckin'>NFBM (theme only)>Playin' reprise.
Wharf Rat
July 21, 1974
Hollywood Bowl

The intro is beautifully warped due to its proximity with the preceding Playin'. Oh yeah, Bertrando's AUD is VG+.